@richwilliams

Jobbing the System

Rich — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:34:41 +0000

Supposedly, Steve Jobs changed his car (a Mercedes) every six months to avoid having to get a license tag. I had an uncle once who would change his Buick every two years but that was to keep up legendary status.

Akin to opening up new bank accounts just to get the free $100.00 promotion. Or shuffling money around to the 0% introductory period on new credit cards just before an older credit card promotion expires. If you have time on your hands this type of gaming the system can put money in your pocket.

Steve put a high end twist on the whole deal.

The key question. Was it to remain anonymous or to save a couple of bucks? The world may never know.

Bullets Over Brownsville - On the Grind

Rich — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:36:24 +0000

I dont know how I ended up on these guys mailing list but I've been following their OpenMindz on the Grind Web Series which tracks their journey to raise funds to get themselves to Berlin to attend a film fest they've been accepted into.

Filmmaking is hard enough and an awful lot it on this level can sometimes occur in a vaccuum without enough eyes falling on the product so I decided to share it.

I admire how commited these guys are to their movie (which I have not seen). If I had put half as much energy in to filmmaking as they do I'd be a roaring success.

Peace & Love, Peace & Love

Rich — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:07:24 +0000

This is 3 years old but I Love this. Wonder if it worked?

Mercury Retrograde

Rich — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:43:17 +0000

About 4 years ago I was informed about Mercury Retrograde, when a client refused to buy new computers because "mercury was retrograding". I was told we'd have to wait 10 days or so until it ended to make the purchases. OK. Whatever.

According to astrology when the planet Mercury is moving backwards (actually it only appears to move backward) in the heavens it can wreak all kinds of havoc with things down here on Earth. Including among other things electronics and communications equipment i.e. computers.

Astrology is not my thing but do I put Merc Retro on the calendar now just to be safe. And perhaps its just self fulfilling prophecy but its been guaranteed since I've been paying attention that a bunch of computers will go haywire everytime this "event' rolls around.

When my new employee started working for me last year, I informed him of Merc Retro just to see if it was "just me". I also inform new clients about it just to test the theory. Strangely, the theory holds up.

In a years time my employee has also become a (semi) believer like me. He's seen the problems first hand each time the event rolls around. To top it off, Mercury Retrograde claimed his brand new laptop and his backup desktop just yesterday. Granted the Apple software update proabbly didnt help either but it still counts.

So far, this current Mercury Retrograde has has completely crashed a server, lost an important backup, claimed two laptops, one desktop and generally kept us pretty busy the last 3 weeks. Mercury Retrograde fortunately ends today.

Conicidence or not?

Ode To Jobs - Fight the Power

Rich — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:57:02 +0000

Hearing that Steve Jobs was no longer running Apple last night was kind of a bummer.

I've been using Apple products since "1989!" which is coincidentally the opening line of Public Enemy's "Fight the Power".

I digress. Steve is a visionary. There are lots of creative and smart people. I consider myself among them. But visionaries are few and far between.

If you check out this clip of steve in 1997 @ WWDC ....yes 1997, everything he is talking about then, is going on NOW. Visionary!

Product: Belkin Folio for iPad 2

Rich — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 19:14:55 +0000

Belkin releases its Folio for iPad 2 to make it more "laptopy". It creates a self contained case which houses a Bluetooth keyboard to control the the device.

I'm currently on the fence about whether to upgrade my Macbook Pro 15" to a Macbook Air or attempt to use an iPad as my business tool when on the go.

While I havent found my iPad useful for more than a virtual baby sitter, game console and occasionional web surfer, adding a keyboard and upright ability could make it a bit more useful. I'll let you know if I give it a try.

Available for pre-order at Amazon [$99| Buy]

Switch (Multi Tool) @ Quirky.com

Rich — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:33:17 +0000

I've been a fan of the old school Swiss Army knife and the ultra useful Leatherman but I like the Switch too. The has 18 different attachments and is completely customizable as to which tools you'd like to carry around with you.

Find this on Quirky, a website that partners with inventors of unique products to maket and sell direct to the consumer.

Rabbit Hole: Newsradio Stinkbutt

Rich — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:33:08 +0000

Classic episode from a 90's favorite. A complete waste of time if you have some to spare.

Stinkbutt

Two Awful Google Mobile Phone Ads

Rich — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:00:40 +0000

I like Google as a company. Even though they once banned my adwords account without warning. Their nearly flawless spam filtering in their email is feat to behold, not to mention the search thing.

I wont get into the politics of wireless phone companies Two-Year phone contracts, because at this point until someone does something different they are a fact of life. But at least occasionally someone will offer a great phone for free, with the two year contract of course, as Google seems to be doing with their new Nexus Phone today (8/3/11) at Best Buy stores.

I can only assume that it is a great phone because Google so horribly botched their last phone release that they had to go back to the drawing board. Google should be able to get it right after 1 try. Right? After all, Windows had its Vista. But Windows 7 is kind of cool. That coupled with the fact that Android should have come of age by now as a mobile OS, its been around the block a few times.

BUT.....Google's marketing and customer appeal leaves a lot to be desired. Case in point, the following two commercials. When I was producing commercials, which is a hell of alot easier than creating and directing them, occasionally a colleague would be looking to put together a spec reel to demo their potential talents as a director. You then send the reel around and hope someone will take notice of what a genius you are and hire you.

Not more than once the ideas would be exactly like these Google Ads. Technically proficient but still not resonating the way a really good commercial should. Just like the last 3-5 years of superbowl ads.

Among the types of high end ads these days include the "cool song ad" and the "cute ad". A third type of ad involving some type of hitting, junk punches or intimidation of some sort is not represented here.

The cool song ad gets a good (or popular) song and matches images that ususally have nothing to do with the product in a attempt to be clever and then it flashes the product at the very end.

The cute ad uses a kid and holds a bit longer on the product shot after the set up.

Both types love the use of double entendre or past iconography (The Young Darth Vader ad comes to mind).

I could go on all day. Anyway, judge for yourself.

Generic Surplus Boot/Sneaker

Rich — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:38:31 +0000

This might be my first footwear purchase for the upcoming fall season. At $43 bucks these wont last long. Find them at Amazon's MyHabit Men's Shop. Look for the Generic Surplus link.